Cheese Stocks Steady While Butter And Pork Tighten

The USDA’s August Cold Storage report shows shifting stock levels across major dairy, meat, and poultry products.

cheese cold storage_Photo by Vasyl Diachuk via AdobeStock_302955024.jpg

Cheese factory production shelves are filled with aging cheese in storage.

WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — The USDA’s August Cold Storage report shows shifting stock levels across major dairy, meat, and poultry products.

Butter & Cheese

Natural cheese supplies in refrigerated warehouses ended the month one percent lower than in July, but two percent higher than a year earlier.

Butter stocks continued to tighten, down eight percent month-over-month and six percent year-over-year, reflecting strong domestic demand.

Poultry

Frozen poultry supplies were mixed. Total stocks were slightly lower than both July and last August, with chicken inventories down two percent from July but still four percent above the previous year.

Turkey supplies increased by three percent from July but fell by eight percent from 2024 levels.

Beef & Pork

Red meat inventories were also reduced. Total freezer stocks declined by two percent from July and by seven percent from last year. Beef supplies edged one percent lower from the previous month but remained two percent above last year.

Frozen pork dropped three percent from July and 13 percent from 2024, with pork bellies sharply lower, down 25 percent from July.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Strong yields and higher cattle prices helped stabilize conditions, but weak crop prices and rising carryover debt remain major challenges for Eleventh District farmers.
Corn exports remain strong, while soybeans and wheat shift week to week on river conditions and global demand.
A regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture, prepared by RFD-TV Markets Specialist Tony St. James, for the week of Monday, November 24, 2025.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller warns horse owners after EHV-1 cases linked to the Waco WPRA Finals. Horses linked to recent Waco events should be isolated and closely monitored, as early action is critical to stopping the spread of EHV-1.
Farmers with unpaid Hansen-Mueller grain should verify delivery records immediately and file indemnity claims quickly, as coverage rules differ sharply by state.
According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.